All watches and warnings for the state were lifted, and the storm is expected to track to the east of Florida, Hurricane Center forecasters said.

Nicole was moving northeast near 9 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extend 345 miles from the center.

The tropical system is expected to bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to the Tampa Bay area Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 80s. The rain chance is 40 percent, Bay News 9 reported.